San Jose, Calif. to host USA-Honduras World Cup Qualifier on March 24

CHICAGO (Via U.S. Soccer) – U.S. Soccer has selected Avaya Stadium to host the critical FIFA World Cup Qualifier between the United States and Honduras on March 24 in San Jose. Kickoff for the first Final Round Qualifier in the Bay Area since 1997 is set for 7:30 p.m. PT, and the match will be broadcast live on FS1 and Univision Networks.

“This game is very important, and we’ve chosen an outstanding venue in Avaya Stadium,” said USMNT head coach Bruce Arena. “We think it’s a place where we will get fantastic support from the U.S. fans in a game that’s critical for our effort to qualify for Russia in 2018.”

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MISSION CRITICAL
With no points from its first two matches in the Final Round, the U.S. will be looking to earn a victory at home against Honduras. The match in San Jose will be the first World Cup Qualifier since Bruce Arena took over as head coach of the MNT last November.

QUICKLY ON THE SAME PAGE
In addition to being the first qualifier under Arena in this cycle, the game will also be his first opportunity to get the full complement of players together since no European-based players were available for the January Camp. As a result, the team will have precious little time to train before the huge game against Honduras.

FOUND OUR WAY BACK TO THE BAY
The match marks the MNT’s first trip to Avaya Stadium and the second to the Bay Area in a year, having played its opening match of the 2016 Copa America Centenario against Colombia in Santa Clara.